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[Bagger]

Today was the first, and probably the last for a little while, day that I was able to get the SEUC out and ride.  So I put in a little over 100 miles.  There was no operational indication for me to buy a battery tender, but the discussion we had back in November kept the thought on my mind almost constantly.  D00d and I had a discussion about BTs, and I had mentioned that I ride so much that I never saw a need.  When he mentioned a possibility of getting 4-5 years out of a battery when using a BT, the idea never left my head.  So I stopped off at possibly the worst HD dealership in the world today, and that would be Rocket HD in Madison, AL, and shopped for a BT.  Wouldn't you know it, they didn't have one, but they did have the Global 12 VDC 1.25A Battery Charger and the three pin pig tail P/N:  94624-97B.  So I bought them.  I figured the three pin pigtail would be the best buy since it can be used with a BT and a 5A charger as well.  Anyway, I just finished the installation of the pigtail.  I plugged the charger into the pigtail, and plugged the charger into a wall outlet.  The yellow light came on.  About 15 or so minutes later, the green light started flashing and the yellow light was steady.  Good to go.  I've read the instructions, and I know the instructions tell me I can leave this thing plugged up for "extended periods," but "extended periods" is vague.  What is "extended periods?"  1 week? 3 months?  It says to check on it "periodically."  Here again............vague.  I'm a systems engineer, and I operate in a very defined world.  Can someone give me an idea of how often I need to check on the battery charger, and how long I can leave it plugged up?  Since Murphy and I are on such wonderful terms, I fear tomorrow I'll walk into my garage to an odor of rotten potatoes and a melted saddle with a sizzling puddle of goo in my battery box.  Advice..........PLEASE!!!!!!!

[RedDevil]

Today was the first, and probably the last for a little while, day that I was able to get the SEUC out and ride.  So I put in a little over 100 miles.  There was no operational indication for me to buy a battery tender, but the discussion we had back in November kept the thought on my mind almost constantly.  D00d and I had a discussion about BTs, and I had mentioned that I ride so much that I never saw a need.  When he mentioned a possibility of getting 4-5 years out of a battery when using a BT, the idea never left my head.  So I stopped off at possibly the worst HD dealership in the world today, and that would be Rocket HD in Madison, AL, and shopped for a BT.  Wouldn't you know it, they didn't have one, but they did have the Global 12 VDC 1.25A Battery Charger and the three pin pig tail P/N:  94624-97B.  So I bought them.  I figured the three pin pigtail would be the best buy since it can be used with a BT and a 5A charger as well.  Anyway, I just finished the installation of the pigtail.  I plugged the charger into the pigtail, and plugged the charger into a wall outlet.  The yellow light came on.  About 15 or so minutes later, the green light started flashing and the yellow light was steady.  Good to go.  I've read the instructions, and I know the instructions tell me I can leave this thing plugged up for "extended periods," but "extended periods" is vague.  What is "extended periods?"  1 week? 3 months?  It says to check on it "periodically."  Here again............vague.  I'm a systems engineer, and I operate in a very defined world.  Can someone give me an idea of how often I need to check on the battery charger, and how long I can leave it plugged up?  Since Murphy and I are on such wonderful terms, I fear tomorrow I'll walk into my garage to an odor of rotten potatoes and a melted saddle with a sizzling puddle of goo in my battery box.  Advice..........PLEASE!!!!!!!

Bagger,
If you bought tender, you can leave them plugged in as long as you like.  I've gone all winter (up to three months) without riding and left the bike plugged in to the tender the whole time.  I also keep the deep-cycle marine battery from my 5th wheel, in the garage for the winter with a battery tender attached.  It's had the tender on it since November and no melted pile of goo and battery acid all over the floor.  The tenders take a longer time to charge a battery because of the lower amperage, but once they sense a full charge, they go into the tending mode and apply small amounts of current just to keep the battery at 100%.  They supposedly prevent sulfidation of the battery and keep it at optimum levels of performance.  I check the tenders daily as I walk out into the garage, just to make sure the green lights are on.  Every once in a while (once a week maybe), I'll feel the 5th wheel battery to see if it's warm.  I went 5 years on my 02 Ultra, plugging it in every winter, and when I traded it in on the 07 Jester, it still had it's original battery in it and turned over like the day I bought it.

Cheers [smiley=xyxthumbs.gif],
Red

[Fired00d]

If this is the Global Battery Charger you are speaking of you should be able to leave it plugged up indefinitely. It should come on when needed to charge the battery up and then turn off when it reaches that level.

In the description from MoCo website it actually says this…

....Advanced solid state circuitry constantly monitors the battery's voltage without overcharging which causes damage. Switches to float mode automatically adjusting the charge rate up or down to keep the battery properly maintained for extended periods of time.....

I've got the older version which MoCo used to sell that was a "Battery Tender" clone. Same features just had the MoCo face on it. I leave mines hooked up as long as the bike is parked, and have had no problems with it.

I'm using the MoCo's H-D® AGM Original Equipment Batteries which I'm sure you are also using so you should be fine leaving it connected all the time.

 [smiley=pumpkin.gif]
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 [smiley=fireman.gif]

[Bagger]

If this is the [highlight]Global Battery Charger[/highlight] you are speaking of you should be able to leave it plugged up indefinitely. It should come on when needed to charge the battery up and then turn off when it reaches that level.

It is.

In the description from MoCo website it actually says this…

Advanced solid state circuitry constantly monitors the battery's voltage without overcharging which causes damage. Switches to float mode automatically adjusting the charge rate up or down to keep the battery properly maintained for extended periods of time.

Yep, the instructions do say that...........but here again, "extended periods" is a vague term.  "Extended periods" to the MOCO might be a week, but in my line of work, I might be out of town for a month or better; hence my question.

I've got the older version which MoCo used to sell that was a "Battery Tender" clone. Same features just had the MoCo face on it. I leave mines hooked up as long as the bike is parked, and have had no problems with it.

Spec-wise, that looks exactly like mine.  So, with that knowledge, I'll drink a beer or three, hit the sack and sleep well.  I don't think anything bad is going to happen.  Thanks.

I'm using the MoCo's [highlight]H-D® AGM Original Equipment Batteries which I'm sure you are also using[/highlight] so you should be fine leaving it connected all the time.

Yep, that's my battery.  I'll enforce my own definition of "periodically" and check on the setup religiously for the next few days, but I think it'll be OK.

  

[Bagger]

Bagger,
If you bought tender, you can leave them plugged in as long as you like.  I've gone all winter (up to three months) without riding and left the bike plugged in to the tender the whole time.  I also keep the deep-cycle marine battery from my 5th wheel, in the garage for the winter with a battery tender attached.  It's had the tender on it since November and no melted pile of goo and battery acid all over the floor.  The tenders take a longer time to charge a battery because of the lower amperage, but once they sense a full charge, they go into the tending mode and apply small amounts of current just to keep the battery at 100%.  They supposedly prevent sulfidation of the battery and keep it at optimum levels of performance.  [highlight]I check the tenders daily as I walk out into the garage, just to make sure the green lights are on.[/highlight]  Every once in a while (once a week maybe), I'll feel the 5th wheel battery to see if it's warm.  I went 5 years on my 02 Ultra, plugging it in every winter, and when I traded it in on the 07 Jester, it still had it's original battery in it and turned over like the day I bought it.

Cheers [smiley=xyxthumbs.gif],
Red

That was my thought on the subject; daily checks, probably twice daily at first.  Thanks, Red.

[RedDevil]

It is.


Yep, the instructions do say that...........but here again, "extended periods" is a vague term.  "Extended periods" to the MOCO might be a week, but in my line of work, I might be out of town for a month or better; hence my question.


Spec-wise, that looks exactly like mine.  So, with that knowledge, I'll drink a beer or three, hit the sack and sleep well.  I don't think anything bad is going to happen.  Thanks.


It is.


Yep, the instructions do say that...........but here again, "extended periods" is a vague term.  "Extended periods" to the MOCO might be a week, but in my line of work, I might be out of town for a month or better; hence my question.


Spec-wise, that looks exactly like mine.  So, with that knowledge, I'll drink a beer or three, hit the sack and sleep well.  I don't think anything bad is going to happen.  Thanks.


Yep, that's my battery.  I'll enforce my own definition of "periodically" and check on the setup religiously for the next few days, but I think it'll be OK.

  

Bagger,
Maybe this will help.  I just went out in the garage to see which one I have on the bike...it is the Global Battery Charger, part #99863-01.  Is that the same one you've got?  I've had it since I bought the 02 Ultra, and have it plugged into the 07 right now.  I leave it plugged in all winter long whether I ride or not, and have never had a problem.  Like I said, I glance over at it when I walk through the garage to leave for work in the morning just to make sure the green light is on and nothing else.  I've never had a problem leaving it connected.  
Cheers [smiley=xyxthumbs.gif],
Red

[Fired00d]

You'll be fine w/it. As long as it comes on when needed brings the battery up to charge, then goes to a float you have nothing to worry about. When the MoCo is speaking of "extensive periods" I think they are speaking of how long the bike will be parked/not run, and not the length of time this apparatus can be used/hooked up. [smiley=nixweiss.gif]

 [smiley=pumpkin.gif]
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 [smiley=fireman.gif]

[Bagger]

Bagger,
Maybe this will help.  I just went out in the garage to see which one I have on the bike...it is the Global Battery Charger, part #99863-01.  Is that the same one you've got?  I've had it since I bought the 02 Ultra, and have it plugged into the 07 right now.  I leave it plugged in all winter long whether I ride or not, and have never had a problem.  Like I said, I glance over at it when I walk through the garage to leave for work in the morning just to make sure the green light is on and nothing else.  I've never had a problem leaving it connected.  
Cheers [smiley=xyxthumbs.gif],
Red

Red,
Yep, I have the same P/N as your's.  It is just something new with vague terms on a $32K bike........which is why this forum exists.  Gotta know.  [smiley=xyxthumbs.gif]  Thanks very much for your advice, and for checking on the part number for me.

Henry

[Bagger]

You'll be fine w/it. As long as it comes on when needed brings the battery up to charge, then goes to a float you have nothing to worry about. When the MoCo is speaking of "extensive periods" I think they are speaking of how long the bike will be parked/not run, and not the length of time this apparatus can be used/hooked up. [smiley=nixweiss.gif]

 [smiley=pumpkin.gif]
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 [smiley=fireman.gif]

Thanks d00d.  Got the "new stuff" jitters is all.  I've had bad things happen involving batteries in the past, so I was a little anxious.  Much appreciate your help.

[Fired00d]

Thanks d00d.  Got the "new stuff" jitters is all.  I've had bad things happen involving batteries in the past, so I was a little anxious.  Much appreciate your help.

No problem I understand, that's why I wanted to be sure I was giving you information on the set-up you have.

I first tried my Battery Tender on a wet cell DieHard battery (on my Fatboy) and had a problem w/it boiling the battery over. I think this Battery Tender/Charger is made specifically for the AGV Batteries, and wouldn’t recommend them for anything else. [smiley=nixweiss.gif]

 [smiley=pumpkin.gif]
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 [smiley=fireman.gif]

[SPIDERMAN]

 Hope this isn't too far off topic. My 07 Road Glide came with the battery cable already installed on the bike. All I have to do is plug in the H-D tender I already have. Has anyone else buying an 07 noticed this ?

B B

[Bagger]

Hope this isn't too far off topic. My 07 Road Glide came with the battery cable already installed on the bike. All I have to do is plug in the H-D tender I already have. Has anyone else buying an 07 noticed this ?

B B

It is, but that's OK.........we'll make allowances just for you SPIDERMAN.

[porthole]

Hope this isn't too far off topic. My 07 Road Glide came with the battery cable already installed on the bike. All I have to do is plug in the H-D tender I already have. Has anyone else buying an 07 noticed this ?

B B

Brian,

My dealer puts the pigtails on every bike as they do the prep. I have seen many other dealers follow the same practice.

I have also seen a couple of dealers that had 20-30 bikes at a time plugged in to keep the batteries topped off.

In the long run it is cheaper and less embarrassing to spend a couple of bucks on the pigtails and keeping the batteries charged.

[RedDevil]

Hope this isn't too far off topic. My 07 Road Glide came with the battery cable already installed on the bike. All I have to do is plug in the H-D tender I already have. Has anyone else buying an 07 noticed this ?

B B

Spidey,
Nothing's off-topic for you.   I don't know if the 07's come with them, but when I told the dealer to put one on when they were prepping the bike, he said that they include them on the bike.  I guess it doubles as an extra plug for heated riding gear when you don't have the tender hooked up.  Also encourages the buyer to get a tender from the dealer.  I noticed that my dealer had plenty in stock, so they must sell a bunch of them.  It's actually a cheap price to pay compared to replacing batteries.   My 02 Ultra still had the OEM battery in it when I traded it in on the 07 and I kept it plugged in always during the winter.  So I'm sure it's more than paid for itself.

Cheers  [smiley=xyxthumbs.gif],
Red

[Hoist!]

These things work great. I have pigtails on all my bikes. I use a Kury dual charger for two of them and have the HD Universal 5A for the SERK. Plug them in whenever they're in the garage - Year Round! No big sweat to plug it in after you lock up the bike. Becomes part of the routine. You really don't have to keep an eye on it either. We just can't resist going out to check out our bikes. Any excuse! Hoist! 8-)